Card processing apparatus



Jan. 22, 1963 J. B. WIr-:NER 3,074,551

CARD PROCESSING APPARATUS Filed Feb. 24, 1959 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 mul...nu.: Mmmm www l l wh ai! IE5 .unan ||l| lull uM-H .bu ...l-HL 1 l l l 1NN J. B. WIENER CARD PROCESSING APPARATUS Jan. 22, 1963 3,074,551

Filed Feb. 24, 1959 @56m/gig Jan. 22, 1963 J. B. WIENER 3,074,551

CARD PROCESSING APPARATUS Filed Feb. 24, 1959 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Jan. 22,1963 J. B. wil-:NER

CARD PROCESSING APPARATUS 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Feb. 24, 1959 WMM @my nJan. 22, 1963 J. B. WIENER 3,074,551

CARD PROCESSING APPARATUS v Filed Feb. 24, 1959 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 'Unite@rates The present invention relates to card procesing apparatus forhandling information storage cards on which data is recorded. Theinvention is more particularly directed to an improved card procesingapparatus for eiectively sorting the information storage cards inaccordance with the information recorded on the individual cards.

Card processing systems and apparatus with which the present inventionis concerned make use of a plurality of information storage cards onwhich data is recorded by any one of several diferent techniques. Theinformation may, for example, be recorded on the individual cards in theform of patterns of punched holes, in the form of discrete magnetizedareas of north or south polarity, or in any other suitable form.

The apparatus of the present invention Will be described in conjunctionwith information storage cards on which information is recorded in theform of multi-digit binary numbers and by meansV of discrete magnetizedareas. With the particular type or" recording to be described, a rstmagnetic polarity of a magnetized area represents binary 1, and theopposite magnetic polarity represents binary O. Also in the embodimentof the invention to be ascribed the multi-digit binary numbersrepresented by the magnetized area at respective positions on the cardsare arranged to represent decimal digits from to 9 at each suchposition. Moreover, the decimal digits represented at successivepositions along each card are so arranged in increasing ordinalsignincance from one end ot the card to the other.

lt will become apparent as the description proceeds, however, that anydesired type of recording may be used for the individual cards, and anyrecording code may be utilized. This is because the apparatus of theinvention is not dependent upon any particular type of recording. It ismerely necessary to provide appropriate transducer means to convertinput electrical signals into the particular type or recording indicia,and vice versa. It is also possible for the cards to contain recordingswhich are not in bit form, such as magnetic letters and the like. Forthe latter type of recordings, suitable translators are provided toconvert the recorded characters into bit form.

Due to the complexity or large business organizations, card processingsystems utilized in conjunction with such business organizations oftenentail the use of hundreds of thousands of information storage cards. Apressing problem that has arisen has been to devise suitable systems andapparatus for handling and sorting the cards rapidly and erhciently. itis also important that such equipment use a minimum number of componentsand a minimum amount or" space, and yet that it be capable of operatingwith a high degree of precision. The apparatus of the present inventionsuccessfully solves these problems.

Systems and apparatus using rotatable vacuum pressure transport drumshave been proposed and constructed for selecting, merging, sorting7collating and for otherwise processing the information storage cards. insuch apparatus, cards are selectively fed to the peripheral edge of atransport drum (or other transport medium) from an input station whichis positioned adjacent the drum. The drum is rotatable and avacuumpressure is provided at its peripheral edge to hold the transportedcards securely on that edge. The drum either is used alone, or inconjunction with other similar drums, to carry cards past a reading orWriting transducing station at which thel atene 2 cards are processed bysuitable transducers. This processing, for example, may establishcertain sorting controis and the cards may be selectively transferred toother drums under the action of these controls. These other drums maythen carry the cards to the selected output stations into which thecards are deposited.

A vacuum pressure rotatable transport drum, similar in concept to thedrums referred to in the preceding paragraph, will be described indetail subsequently in the present specication. This drum, as will bedescribed, is equipped with a plurality of coaxial spaced annular slotsextending around its periphery. The drum is hollow, and air is drawn inthrough its hollow interior and inwardly through the slots to create avacuum pressure at the peripheral surface of the drum. This vacuumpressure, as noted above, enables the cards to be firmly retained on theperipheral edge of the drum for circulation by the drum from the inputstation to the output stations.

Copending application Ser. No. 731,413 which was filed April 28, 8 inthe name of Eric Azari, now Patent No. 2,981,411, describes another typeof transport member for information storage cards. The transport memberdescribed and claimed in the copending application includes a stationaryguiding surface for transporting the information cards along apredetermined path. A series of pressurized fluid jets are directed atan angle through the guiding surface and at spaced positions along thepath. The pressurized fluid streams emitted by the jets set up aBernoulli effect between the cards and the guiding surface. This electcauses the cards to be moved rapidly along the selected path and inintimate contact with the guiding surface.

As pointed out in the copending Azari application, the..

structure of the transport member disclosed and claimed in thatapplication can taire the form of a stationary cylinder, with the duidjets being suitably positioned to cause the cards to be rapidlytransported around the peripheral surface of the stationary member. itwill become evident as the present description proceeds that theapparatus to be described in conjunction with the present invention mayincorporate either a rotatable drum of the type described above or itmay incorporate the stationary drum of thel copending Azari application.

Copending application Ser. No.l 752,953 which was filed August 4, 1958in the name of Eric Azari et al.,

now Patent No. 2,977,674, discloses apparatus using the.

stationary Bernoulli type of transport member described above to performcertain sorting operations on the cards.-

The embodiment of the apparatus described in the latter copendingapplication includes a stationary transport.

member in the form of an elongated hollow cylinder having a plurality ofspiral guide paths formed in its surface, with associated pressurizediluid jets extending into the guide paths from the interior of thetransport member.

The sorting apparatus of the present invention may also use an elongatedstationary cylindrical transport member of the type mentioned in thepreceding paragraph. The transport member utilized in the embodiment ofthe present invention to be described is provided with a helical guidingsurface which serves to transfer the cards in a spiral path around thecylindrical transport member from one end of the member to the other. ItWill becomev apparent, however, that other conngurations may be used,other than helical, for the guiding surfaces.

Alternately, the invention may use an elognated rotat-y ing transportdrum similar to the type described previ ously. The drum includes guidesfor causing-the cards transported by the drum to move in a spiral pathalong the drum surface as the cards are circulated by the drum.

The embodiment of the invention to be described.

amasar utilizes a pair of transport members which are positionedadjacent each other. The first transport member, in the manner describedbrieily above, causes the cards to move from an input station along aspiral path from one of its ends to the other. The second transportmember, as also described briefly above, causes the cards to move inannular paths around its peripheral edge. As also noted, these transportmembers may either be stationary and have the cards transported on theirsurfaces in accordance with Bernoulli principles in the describedmanner, or they may be rotatable and transport the cards in the manneralso described above.

A separate transfer unit is positioned at each of the adjacent points ofthe respective annular guiuevpaths of the second transport member andthe spiral guide path of the first transport member. rthese transferunits are controlled so that cards may be selectively transferred fromthe spiral path of the iirst transport member to selected ones of theannular paths on the second transport member. This selective transfermay, for example, be in accord with the equivalent decimal digits offrom to 9 at any selected level of ordinal significance. The informationstorage cards, for example, may have digital information recorded onthem in a plurality oi' columns of magnetic areas of discrete magneticextending across each card, with one column being adjacent the other andWith each column defining a difierent position on the card. The binarydigits in the dilierentV columns `may, as mentioned above, representdecimal digits of from to 9, with the significance of the decimal digitsincreasing from one end of the card to the other.

The transfer of the cards from the rst transport member to selected onesof the annular paths of the second transport member may be such,therefore, that the cards representing the same decimal divits at theparticular level of ordinal significance are all transferred to the sameannular path on the second transport member. Therefore, if ten annularpaths are provided on the second transport member, these paths mayrespectively transport transferred cards representing the decimal digitsof from 0 to 9 at the particular ordinal level.

Each of the annular guide paths on the second transport member may havea plurality of output stations associated with it. These output stationsmay be of the pass-under type described in copending application 742,546filed lune 17, 1958 in the name of Alfred M. Nelson et al., now PatentNo. 3,016,239. The output stations described in the co-pendingapplication are each controllable to permit any card transported to itsmouth either to pass under the station and continue on its Way, or to bedeposited in the station. This permits a plurality of such outputstations to be disposed along a common transport path, so that the cardsmay selectively be deposited in diderent ones of the output stations.

The output stations associated With any particular guide path on thesecond transport member may be controlled so that the cards representingdifferent decimal digits at a diierent ordinal level from the leveldiscussed above are deposited in dierent ones of those output stations.

Therefore, a sorting operation on the cards for two levels of ordinalsignificance can be carried out in a single pass. For example, thetransfers of cards from the first transport member to the differentannular paths of the second transport member can first be made inaccordance with the second-to-least signiiicant decimal digits, that is,the tens digits. Then, the deposit of cards on any one of the annularpaths of the second transport drum into the output stations associatedwith that path can be in accordance with the decimal digits of leastsignificance, that is, the ones digits. The process can then be repeatedfor the decimal digits of the next two levels of signicance, and so onuntil a complete sort has been obtained.

It will be appreciated, however, that the sorting capabilities of theapparatus of the present invention are not limited to a decimal sort,and that the apparatus may be used to perform binary sorts and othersorting operations. lt will also be appreciated that the inventionprovides efficient and compact equipment for rapidly and accuratelyperforming a desired sorting operation on a group of cards introducedinto the apparatus.

In the drawings:

FIGURE l is a side elevational view of one embodimen.. of the sortingapparatus of the present invention, and illustrating a iirst transportmember having spiral paths for carrying information storage cards aroundthe periphery oi the member from one end to the other and alsoillustrating a second transport member having spaced annular paths, withmeans for transferring the cards from the spiral paths of the iirstmember to the various annular paths ofthe second;

FIGURE 2 is a cross-sectional View substantially on the line 2-2 ofFGURE l to illustrate the hollow interior of the iirst one of thetransport members and the manner in which under pressure is introducedto that interior;

FiGURE 3 is a top plan view of one ot the transfer members, whichmembers are used for transterring the information cards from one oi thetransport members of FGURE l to the other, the View of FIGURE 3 beingsubstantially on the line 3 3 of FIGURE l;

FIGURE 3e is a side sectional view, substantially on the line 3ft-3a ofFIGURE 3, of the transfer member;

FlGURE 4 is a fragmentary side sectional View, substantially on the linei--i of FIGURE l, of an input station which is utilized to feed theinformation cards to one of the transport members of FiGURE l; Y

FIGURE 5 is a top plan vievv, substantially on the line S--S of FIGUREl, and showing the details of one of a plurality of output stationsassociated with one of the transport members of F-lGURE l;

FIGURE 6 is a perspective view of the output station of FIGURE 5 andillustrates in more detail the various components which make up theoutput station and which are controlled to cause cards either to bedeposited in the station or to pass under the mouth of the station;

FIGURE 7 is a side elevational View, partly in section, of the secondone of the transport members, this latter view illustratingconstructional details of the manner in which the second transportmember can be rotatably mounted and how it may be activated;

FIGURE 8 is a block diagram illustrating a suitable logic control systemwhich may be used to selectively control the transfer of cards from oneof the transport members of FlGURE l to the other; and

FIGURE 9 is a block diagram of a suitable control system which may beused for controlling the deposit ot cards into selected ones of theoutput stations lassociated with the latter transport member in FIGURE1.

The sorting apparatus of the present invention, as illustrated in FlGURE1, includes a iirst transport member lll) which is illustrated as beingin the form of an elongated Istationary hollow cylinder. As noted above,this transport member may be stationary, or it may be rotatable.Assuming .that the member is stationary, a spiral path is provided whichextends in -a helical manner from the lower left hand corner ot themember to the upper right hand corner. This helical path is designatedl2, and it has a plurality of angled oriiices which extend from thehollow interior of the member (see FIGURE 2). These oriiices aredesignated as le, and they are spaced at predetermined positions -alongthe spiral path and at a predetermined angle in the direction of cardmotion along the path. The hollow interior of the transport member l@forms a chamber lo. Pressurized iluid, such as compressed air, isintroduced into the chamber 16 through a pipeline 1S which extendsthrough the lower end of the transport member. u

As fully described in the copending applications;

731,413 and 752,935, the pressurized air within the:

chamber lo is emitted by the orifices 14- to form a plurality ofpressurized huid jets which set upa Bernoulli effect so that theinformation cards are rapidly transported about the spiral path 12 fromone end of the transport member l@ to the other.

The information storage cards are originally held in -a stackedcondition in an input station Ztl which is posiioned at the lower lefthand end of the transport me-mber t''at the mouth of the spiral path 12.The input station 29 is illustrated in more detail in FiGURE 4. As shownin FlG' RE 4, the input station has its mouth positioned adjacent theentrance of the path l2. The input station 2b is adapted to hold theinformation storage cards in a stacked condition as shown in FIGURE 4.This station includes `a pusher member 22 which is biased upwardlybetween a pair of side Walls 25; and 26 by means of a spring 23. Thecards -are supported in a horizontal position on top of the pushermember 22, and the springV 2S causes the pusher to urge the cards towardthe top of the station.

A rotatable feed wheel 3e is mounted at the top of the station 2t? inFIGURE 4, and the feed wheel extends .through a cover 32 of the stationand engages the top card in the station. The cover 32 delines a throat34 with the side wall 24, and this throat is aligned With the entranceof the spiral path l2. The feed wheel is rotated so that it moves onecard at a time through the throat 34 into the path l2 so that the movedcard may come under the iniiuence of the pressurized lluid emerging fromthe adjacent orifice 1dto be carried rapidly along the path. Theparticular input station described above and illustrated in FiGURE 4exemplifies one of many typical means that may be used for feeding cardsto the spiral path l2 of the transport member l0. For example, the cardsmay be stacked in individual magazines, and the magazines may beselectively brought into position, either by manual or mechanical means,so that the stacked cards therein may be successively fed to the path l2of the transport member le.

The sorting apparatus or the invention also includes a second transportmember 4G. As described above, the second transport member may berotatable, and it may utilize a vacuum pressure for holding the cards onits peripheral surface. As an alternative, the transport member may bestationary and utilize the Bernoulli effect. For purposes ot the presentdescription, the transport member will be considered as being rotatable.

The rotatable transport member di) includes a plurality of pairs ofannular slots which extend about its peripheral surface and which arespaced ani-ally along the member coaxial with its axis of rotation.These pairs of siots are designated as 42, 154, 45, 4S, 5d, 52, 5d, Se,5S and ed in FiGUE l. As will be described in detail in conjunction withFIGURE 7, a vacuum pressure is established in the hollow interior of therotatable `transport member di) to establish a vacuum holding eect ateach pair of annular slots. This permits any card fed to any one of thepairs of slots to be iirmly held on the peripheral surface of thetransport member 49 and circulated by the transport member. ln theiliustrated embodiment, ten pairs of annular slots are illustrated (42,44, 46, 48, Sil, S2, 5d, Se, 53 and 6?) for the member 49 so that themember can perform a decimal sort with the decimal digits of O to 9,inclusive, being respectively allocated to the pairs of slots.

As illustrated in FiGURE 1, the transport members Siti and dit arepositioned adjacent one another, and the spiral path l2 is shaped andpositioned so that it meets a corresponding one of the annular pairs ofslots 42, d4, 425, d3, dii, 52, 54, 56, S3 and 6i) at the adiacent lineof the two members. A corresponding plurality of transfer members 62,6d, 66, 63, 76, 72, 74, 76, 7S, 3d are positioned between the twotransport members to etiect trans1 fers ofthe cards from the-spiral pathl2 on the transport member l@ to selected ones of the pairs ofannularslots on the transport member 4t?.

A plurality of pass-under output stations 82 are positioned adjacentrespective ones of the pairs of slots 42, 44,

45, 48, 5t?, 52, 54, S6, 53 and di) of the transport mem` ber 4t?. Forexample, for a decimal sort, ten output stations are positioned -to beadjacent each one of the pairs of slots on the transport member at?.These output stations are controlled in a manner to be described so thatthe cards transported on the transport member lit may be selectivelydeposited in different ones of the output stations. For example, for anyparticular pass, the cards representing decimal digits offrom 0 to 9 ata particular levelA of ordinal Significance (such as the tens digi-ts,for example) are selectively transferred. from the spiral path l2 on thetransport member ltirto the ones of the pairs of slots on the transportmember d@ respectively corresponding to the diiferent decimal digits.Then, the cards transported on the drum it? adjacent the various airs ofslots are selectively deposited in the dilerent outpult stations inaccordance with the decimal digits represented by them at another levelof ordinal signiiicance (such'as the ones digits, for example). Itis inthis manner, that the cards may be sorted in `a single pass` withrespect to two levels of ordinal signiiicance. That is, in one pass thecards may (for example) be sorted in accordance with decimal digits offrom 0 to 10G.

Read head transducing means 84 are positioned adjacent the spiralpath-i2 on the transport member l? for processing the informationstorage cards introduced to the path from the input station Ztl. Thesetransducing means may compromise a plurality of electro-nagnetic readhead transducers, with each read head being positioned to process adifferent row of magnetic areas` on each card. Therefore, the read headsof the transducing means 84 may be controlled to provide a parallel readout of each position of each card, as the information cards are movedunder the transducing means 'along the path l2.

Similar read head transducing means S6, S3, 9h, 92, 9d, 9d, 98, lliii),M2 and i194 are positioned adjacent respective ones of the pairs ofslots 42, 44, 46, 43, Si), 52, 54, 56, 5S and ed ot the transport memberThe latter read head transducer means may all be similar in theirconstruction to the read head transducer means S4. The transducer means84, in a manner to be described, controls the transfer of the cards fromthe spiral path l2 of the transport member 1li to respective ones of thepairs of slots ot the transport member ri`he transducer means 8e, S8,9%, 92, Sie, 9e, 93, ich, 192 and the, on the other hand, controls thedeposit of cards in selected output stations SZ associated with thedifferent pairs of slots.

As shown in FIGURE 3, the transfer members such as the member 6o eachhas a tear-drop configuration when viewed in plan. The transfer member,as shown in FIG- URE 3a, has a bell-shaped internal chamber M56. Thischamber has a thin apertured strip St secured to its torward end, andthe strip has a pair of apertures liti formed in it through whichpressurized streams or tluid, such as air, may emerge.

The throat of the bell-shaped chamber lite is coupled to a conduit lllwhich, in turn, is connected to a pipe line H2. When pressurized duid,such as air, is introduced through the pipe line H2 and through theconduit lift to the chamber E65, pressurized streams of air are causedto emerge from the aperture titl. These streams are directedtangentially or" the transport member l@ so that any card transportedon'the spiral l2 and coming under the influence of the streams isstripped outwardly from the surface of the transport member lil andmoved over the corresponding one of the transfer members 62, 64, 6d, 63,7i?, 72, 74, 76, 78, Sti into the held of influence of the correspondingpairs of slots'on the transport member 40.- Therefore, when any oneofthe gate transfermcmbers 62,;

sa, se, es, 7s, 72, 74, 7c, 7s or so is 'activate a' card' transportedon the path l2 and coming under the influence of the activated transfermember is transferred from the transport member lil to one of the pairsof slots 42, 441, 46, 4S, Si), 52, 54, Se, 58, el) on the transportmember d@ adjacent the activated transfer member.

The details of one of the pass-over output stations S2 are shown inFIGURES 5 and 6. As noted previously, these output stations may be ofthe type disclosed and claimed in copending application, Ser. No.742,546. The particular type of output station described in the copending application has a reversible feature. ri`his feature permits thestation to operate as an output station for one operational mode and tooperate as an input station for a second operational mode. Theparticular station 32 illustrated in FIGURES 5 and 6 of the presentspecification is likewise a reversible type of station.

The reversible card holding station S2 is mounted on a supporting Vshelfld, with its mouth in contiguous relationship With the peripheralsurface of the transport member 40. As noted previously, the stations 82are positioned in cooperating relationship with dierent ones of thepairs of slots, 42, 44, 46, 48, Sti, 52, 54, 56, SS, 6i) in thetransport member 4i?. The reversible card holding station S2 isillustrated in FIGURE 5 in its stacking mode, and is illustrated inFIGURE 6 in its feeding mode. The

station includes a vacuum pressure feed head 152 which is pivotallymounted adjacent the leading Wall iSd of the station. This feed head isnot shown in FIGURE 5, for purposes of clarity. The station also has astack head ldwhich is pivotally mounted adjacent the trailing wall 158of the station. The construction and operation of the feed head 152 andof the stack head ld are similar to the reversible station disclosed andclaimed in copending application 645,639 led March l2, 1957 in the nameof Alfred ivlNelson et al.

' The feed head l52 is controlled to exert a vacuum pressure at itssurface 16h when the station is in its feeding mode at which the feedhead is moved to its operative position as illustrated in FGURE 6, Thisvacuum pressure is controllable, and it is exerted on the trailing por--tion of the leading card in the card holding station 82. The sameleading card rests on the periphery of the transport member 4t? againstone of the pair of slots in that member. force ou the card tending towithdraw it from the station. The stack head ld is withdrawn to itsstandby position, as illustrated in FIGURE 6, when the station isconditioned to its input or feeding mode. When the stack head is in itsstandby position, it is Withdrawn from the periphery of the transportmember @il so that cards are free to move from the station 82 onto theperiphery of the transport member whenever the vacuum pressure isreleased from the face lo@ of the feed head i512.

The force exerted by the vacuum pressure in the periphery of thetransport member 4Q tends to withdraw the leading card from the station82, as noted above, Whereas the force exerted by the feed head 152 tendsto retain the card in the holder. The force exerted by the feed head ismade the greater of the two so that it is able to overcome the forceexerted on the leading card by the transport member 40. So long as theleading card is held in this manner in the station 82, the other cardsare supported in stacked relationship in the station. Y

Whenever the vacuum pressure to the surface i6() of the feed head 152 isinterrupted, the leading card in the station 82 is Withdrawn bythetransport member 49. The next card in the station now comes intoposition and it is retained in the station unt the next interruption ofthe vacuum pressure to the feed head 152. The trailing wall 158 of thestation forms a throat with the periphery of the transport member 49,and this throat has a Width which is alittle greater than the thicknessof a single card. There@ fore, whenever the Vacuum pressure of the feedhead 1515 is interrupted, only one card at a time is able to pass outThe transport member 40 therefore exerts a eriphery of the transport ofthe station and onto the member.

The provision of feed heads in the station d2. permits these stations tobe controlled at the end of a sorting pass so that all the cards may beremoved in sequence from each station and deposited in a common outputstation. rlhis forms a convenient means for bringing the cards togetherinto a single stack at the end of each pass so that they may be placednu the input station Ztl of EGURE 1 in readiness for the next pass.

In the stacking operational mode of the reversible card holding station82, the feed head 152 is Withdrawn to a standby position and its vacuumpressure is turned off in a manner fully described in the cop/endingapplication 645,639 referred to above. The stack head ide issimultaneously moved into its operative position in which its leadingedge projects into the station to hold cards in the station in a stackedcondition. When the stack head 156 is so moved to its operativeposition, the lower face of the stack head, which includes a pair ofspaced parallel rails or fingers 162, is spaced from the periphery ofthe transport member di?. This enables cards transported on theperiphery of the transport member to pass across the mouth of any one ofthe stations 82 and under the station, even though the correspondingstack head l5@ is moved to its operational state.

A blower member 164 is mounted on the supporting shelf l5@ adjacent thestack head ld. blower member may be similar in its construction to thegate transfer member 66 described in conjunction with Fl-f- URES 3 and3a. The blower member iE/i is also positioned to be spaced from theperiphery of the transport member 4d, so that an information storagecard transported on that periphery may be carried past the stack head ldand past the blower member However, the blower member is positioned teintroduce a stream of liuid, such as pressurized air tangentially of thesurface of the transport member between the stack head 164 and thatsurface. ri'his stream of pressurized fluid may be electricallycontrolled by means or" a usual solenoidvalve in a pressure lineextending to the blower. Whenever the solenoid valve is activated sothat the 'blower emits the stream of pressurized fluid., a cardtransported on the periphery of the trans:A coming under the influenceof the pressurized fluid has its leading edge stripped from theperiphery of the drum by the fluid to extend over the stack head so thatthe card is arrested by the stack head.

A pick-olf member le@ is positioned adjacent the lead-rY ing wall 34,54of the reversible station @2, and this pick-on member has a pair oflingers i7@ (as shown in Fi URE 6) which extend into a correspondingpair of peripheral grooves on the transport member 4t), these groovesbeing disposed adjacent respective ones of the slots in each of thepairs of slots 42, 44, 4o, 43, 5o, 52., 5d, Se, 5E, rhe fingers 179 arebumped radially outward so that the cards transported on the peripheryof the transport member 4d ride over the lingers and are liftedloutwardly from the periphery. Any card arrested by the stack head '156due to the activation of the blower has its trailmg edge projecting overthe lingers jd. The second card transported by the same pair of slots ofthe transport member 4Q rides up over the fingers i175 and undertnepreceding card to pry vthe preceding card from the periphery of thedrum. Fi'he second card may also be stopped by the stack head ld whenthe blower lef-l is activated so as to deposit the preceding card in thestation. Alternately, the second card may nass un over the pick-off loband under the stack head lafwhen the blower 64 is not activated, and thesecond card may then continue on the periphery of the transport member4b.

The leading and trailin walls F.5dand lSS of the station S2 in FEGURES 5nd 6 are parallel to one an other and are spaced a distancecorresponding substantially to the length of the information storagecards. The cards are stacked in the station between the walls inenerally vertical planes with their lower edges resting on thesupporting she" lil. The forward end of the shelf i543 has an arcuateshape to receive the periphery of the rotatable transport member di?.

The feed head 152 is pivotally mounted adjacent the end of the wall 151ion a pivot shaft 3174i, and the fee head is movable arcuate slot E76 inthe supporting shelf iSil. The arrangement is such that when the fee'head is moved to a standby position, it is retracted out of the mouth ofthe station.

The pick-olf member l has a supporting bracket portion which defines arectangular area through which the feed head lidi is movable. t s notedabove, the pickoif member includes a plurality of humped fingers i?,which are adapted to extend into peripheral grooves in the adjacent pairof slots in the rotatable transport member 'is mentioned previously, theforward end of the side wall 53 defines a throat area with the peripheryOf the transport member. This throat area has a width suiiicient to passonly a single card whenever the vacuum pressure at the surface let? ofthe feed head is interrupted. The stack cad is mounted in a pivotedshaft Edil, and it is movable in a slot if?. in the supporting surfaceltl.

When the feed head E52 is in its operative position for the feeding modeof operation of the station, the stack head 155 is withdrawn to itsstandby position and the cards are free to pass one at a time throughthe throat area described above. However, when the stack head ld ismoved to its operative position for the stacking mode of operation ofthe station, and the feed head 152 is retracted, the fingers 152 of thestack head move between the end of the wall and into the mouth of thestation to form a supporting lip for the cards in the station. rhe stackhead blocks the throat area insofar as these cards are concerned, and itcauses cards in the station to be retained.

As noted above, and as more clearly shown in FIG- URE 5, the face of thestack head 1155 is spaced from the periphery or the transport member 4t)when the stack head is in its operative position. rhis spacing of thestack head permits cards to be transported on the periphery of thetransport member past the station. rIhe blower member ld is mounted onthe surface l5@ in the illustrated position in FIGURES 5 and 6. Thedetails of this blower member, as mentioned above, may be similar tothose described in conjunction with the gate transfer member 65 inPlGURE 3o. As noted, the blower member 164 serves to controllably introd.ce a stream of pressurized lluid tangentially of the peripheral surfaceof the transport member 49 and between the transport member and thestack head 156 for the reasons described above.

The feed head l52 and the stack head 156 may be controlled by a systemof cams and cam followers in the manner described, for example, incopending application Serial No. 645,639 led March l2, 1957 in the nameof Alfred M. Nelson et al., now Patent No. 2,969,979. These mechanismsprovide an appropriate control so that in one operating mode the feedhead 152 is moved forward to its operative position and the staclc head156 is retracted to its standby position, as shown in FGURE 6; and in asecond operating mode, the stack head 156 is moved forward to itsstacking position and the feed head l is retracted to its standbyposition, the view of FIG- URE 5 showing the stack head in its operativeposition but omitting the feed head for purposes of simplicity.

The rotatable transport member 4t) may be constructed in the mannershown in FGURE 7. This construction is similar in some respects to theconstruction of the rotatable vacuum transport drum disclosed andclaimed in copending application Ser. No. 600,975 which was tiled July30, 1956 in the name of Loren R. Wilson (now Patent 2,883,189). Therotatable transport member 40 of FlG- lil URE. l is different from therotatable drum disclosed in the copending application 600,975 only inthat the transport member of FIGURE l includes a plurality of pairs ofannular slots to form a corresponding plurality of circulating paths,whereas the rotatable drum of the copending application discloses asingle pair of annular slots for a single circulating path.

As shown in FlGURE 7, the transport member 40 has a lower section and anupper section. The lower section of the transport member includes adisk-like bottom portion 218 and an integral side portion 221i. Thepairs of annular peripheral slots d2, 44, do, 43, S6, 52, 54, 56, 58 and6i? referred to in FIGURE 1 are formed in the side portion 22d andextend through the side portion. Each of these annular slots has anexternal groove 221 associated with it, as mentioned above, forreceiving the lingers i7@ of the pick-od member 16d. The peripheralslots of each pair may be discontinuous in that they may be interruptedat selected intervals by a series of ribs (not shown) which are integralwith the side portion .22th These ribs are fully disclosed in Patent2,883,189.

The upper section of the transport member it? is in the form of adisk-like member 236 which engages the annular side portion 22d of thelower section at the upper rim of the side portion. The upper section23d forms an enclosure with the lower section of the drum 'with theupper section being parallel to the disloshaped bottom portion 2l?, ofthe lower section. The upper section 23d is held in place on the sideportion 221i) by a plurality of screws 232 which extend through theupper section and which are threaded into the side portion When one ofthe information storage cards is fed from a station di to one of thepairs of slots on the periphery of the transport member di), it is heldby vacuum pressure on the outer peripheral surface of the side portion12d.

It is important that the cards be fed to the peripheral surface of thetransport member it? in an accurately oriented position so that they maybe properly processed. The side walls ld and of each of the stations S2.cooperate with the corresponding supporting shelf ldd to direct thecards with a proper orientation to the adjacent pair of slots on theperipheral surface of the side portion 22d of the lower section of thetransport member dit. it is usual to include a resilient pusher member(not shown) within each of the stations 2, and this member serves tocontinually bias the cards forward in the station and toward the mouthof the station so that the cards are rrnly held in a stacked conditionin the station.

A plurality of dellector rines Z4@ are supported within the interior ofthe transport member fill in press fit with the inner surface of theannular side portion 22d. A different one of these rings is positionedbetween each of the pairs of annular slots, one of these rings beingshown in FIGURE 7 as disposed between the annular `slots 6i). Thedellector rings are each tapered toward the center of the :transportmember to prevent turbulence and to provide a streamlined path for airwhich is drawn in through the pair of slots stl and through the otherpairs of slots referred to in FIGURE l.

The portion 21S of the lower section of tue transport member 46 has anannular sleeve 2.4i which entends downwardly. The sleeve 24E fits on acollar- 2d?, provided at one end of a hollow shaft 244, and it has afriction t with the collar. Therefore, rotation of the hollow shaft24flcauses the transport member 49 to rotate. Also, the interior of theshaft 24.4 communicates with the interior of the transport member.

Bearings 246 are provided at opposite ends of the shaft 24d. The innerraces of the bearings 245 are mounted on the shaft 24e, and the outerraces of the bearings are disposed against bushings 243 secured to ahousing 256 by a plurality of studs 252. An arcuate opening 256 isprovided in the bushing 25@ between the bearings 2.46. rlhis openingenables a belt drive 253 to extend into the housing and around the belt269.v The pulley 259 is l l lteyed to the shaft 244 between the bearings24e, and it held against axial movement by a pair of sleeves 2&2positioned on the shaft between the bearings and the pulley. ln thismanner, the shaft 244 and the member 4d can be rotated by a suitablemotor (not shown) coupled to the pulley h by the drive belt 253.

The bearings 246 and the sleeves Zd?. are heid on the .a difference ofpressure exists between the housing and the shaft.

The bottom plate 2743 is secured to the housing 25d by a plurality ofstuds 2722, and the bottom plate is provided with a central opening. Ahollow conduit 274 extends into the opening in friction lit with theplate 276. The conduit 274 is axially aligned with the hollow shaft d4so that air may be exhausted from the hollow interiors of the shaft andot the conduit by a vacuum pump 2f? The vacuum pump may be of anysuitable known construction and for that reason is shown only in blockform in ElGURE 7.

The vacuum pump 27d draws air in through the annular slots et? andthrough the other pairs of annularslots 42, 44, 46, 48, 5t?, 52, 54,Sti, 53, oli in the rotatable ember 4t). This air is drawn through theinterior of the rotatable transport member 49 down the shaft 244 andthrough the conduit 274. rl`his creates a vacuum pressure at theditlerent circulating paths on the outer peripheral surface of theannular portion 225i of the lower section of the transport member. Thedetlector ring-s, such as the deector ring 24d, assure that the air willflow smoothly through the interior of the transport member and with aminimum of turbulence. This provides a high and adequate vacuum pressurearound the outer peripheral surface of the annular side portion of thetransport to iirmly retain the cards against the pairs of annular slotson that surface.

As noted above, the apparatus of the present invention is appropriatefor performing a decimal sort of the information cards receved from theinput station 253. The logic control circuitry of FlGURE 8 illustratesan appropriate control system that may be used in conjunction with thegate transfer' members 6.2., 64, e5', 68, 70, 72, 74, To, 73 and do. Pora rst pass, this control system may beset to respond to the informationat a position on each card corresponding to a selected level (such asthe tens level) ot the decimal digits of the information recorded on thecards. Tien, the control system or" FIG- URE S is eiiective to activatethe corresponding one of the gate transfer members e2, 64, 66, 6d, 7?,72, 74, 76, 2S, Sil so that the card bearing a particular decimal digitat the selected (tens) position will be transferred to the pair ofannular slots on the transport drum 4t? corresponding to that decimaldigit.

For purposes of simplicity, the control system of PIG- "URE l is shownas including those components necessary to process the decimal digits l,2 and 3 in the various ordinal levels. lt will be understood thatduplicate components are normally incorporated so that all the decimaldigits of 0 9 of the different levels may be handled. lt should also bepointed out that similar control systems such as the system illustratedin FGURE 8 may be connected to each of the read head transducer meansdo, tid, dal, @2, 94, 96, 93, ldd, lo? and it in FIGURE l, and theselatter control systems may be controlled to respond to the informationat a second position on each card (corresponding to the ones digits forthe iirst pass, for example), so that the cards may be deposited in thestatic-ns in accordance with their decimal digits at the second selectedposition.

lt should also be noted that the control system Sti can be made toperform both functions to cause the system to respond to readings by thetransducer means S4 at two diii'erent positions on the cards, and bycausing the rst set of readings to control the gate transfer members62', d4, o6, 68, 753, '72, 74, 7d, 7d, dd; and to cause the secondreading to control the output stations d2 associated with the previouslycontrolled gate transter member. This enables the cards to betransferred to the drum 4d in accordance with their decimal digits atone position, and it enables them to be stacked in the dii'erent outputstations 552 in accordance with their decimal diits at a secondposition.

ln FEGURE 8, one of the cards fed from the input station Ztl andtransported past the read head transducer means 54 in FlGURE l isrepresented as Still. As noted above, the information is recorded oneach card in rows and columns and in binary form. the binary data ineach column corresponds to a particular position of the card and itrepresents a multi-digit binary number whose decimal equivalent, forexample, represents a decimal digit in a numerical sequence oi from d to9 into which the particular card is to be sorted.

The transducer means S4 of FEGURE l is shown in FIGURE 8 as a pluralityof electromagnetic transducer read heads 34a, 84h, 84e, ddd and 84e.Each of the read heads reads a diilerent row or" binary hits on the card3%'. The heads 54a, adb, 54e and 34d read information rows of binaryinformation, and the head 84e reads a clock row. The clock row includesa plurality of magnetic recordings, with each individual recordingcorresponding to a binary l and with the recordings representingsuccessive positions or columns on the card. Each column contains fourseparate binary bits for decimal reading.

The heads dela, 34,5, 84e, 4d and tide are respectively connected to aplurality of ampliiiers dl, 3h23., fall/l, .slid and Sd. The respectiveoutput terminals of the ampitiers Sill, 392, 3i34 and Sile are connectedto a binary-decimal translator 34, the translator being shown in blockform. rlhe translator provides a decoding of binary numbers intocorresponding decimal equivalents. Such a translation may be obtained bya binary-coded decimal converter, bi-quinary decoding neu/vorn or othersuitable network or matrix system. Binary-decirnal translator networksare eX- tremely well known to the art and, for that reason, thetranslator 334 is shown merely in block form. The translator 334 may beconstructed in a manner similar to that indicated in the lower leftcorner of FlGURE l of Hartley Patent 2,444,042. As will be seen in FlG-URE l of the Hartley patent, the switches SAZ and SBZ are respectivecontrolled in accordance with the Values of binary digits of first andsecond least digital signiiicance. The switches SC2 and SC3 arecontrolled in accordance with the value of the binary digit of thirdleast significance. The switches S332, SD3, SD4, SD5 and SDS in theHartley patent are controlled in accordance with the value of the binarydigit of fourth least digital sigmcance. The amplier 66 in FGURE 8 ofapplicants drawing may control the open.. 'on `of the switch SAZ. Inlike manner, the arnolier 394 in FlGURE 5 of applicants drawings maycontrol the operation of the switch SBZ in the Hartley patent.Similarly, the amplier 3%4 in FG- URE 8 of applicants drawings maycontrol the Operation of the switches SC2 and SC3 in FEGURE l otheHartley patent.

-It will be appreciated that the Hartley patent actually constitutesonly one reference and that other references `may also be used toindicate the construction of the translator 132. For example, suitabletranslators are shown in Luhn Patent 2,364,540 and Bray Patent 2,576,-G99. amplifiers Sill, ZidZ, 3t4, Silo and 36S are re- Vspectiyelycoupled to the heads 452, 3415, 84C, 84d and 84e to amplify the signalsfrom the heads.

The translator' 334 has a plurality of output terminals. For example,when a binary pattern of signal indications connected to one of theinput terminals of an and7 net-Y work 336. The number 2 output terminalof the translator is connected to an input terminal of an and network338, andthe number 3 output terminal of the translator is connected toan input terminal of an and net-` work 349. The and networks arewellknown to the electronic digital computer art. These networks includetransistors or diodes which are connected so that a signal is passed tothe output terminal of the network only upon the simultaneousapplication of input signals to all of its input terminals.

The mpliiier 398 is connected to a binary counter Sfr-2. A selectornetwork 344 is connected tothe individual stages of the binary counter,and the selector is connected to a compare network 348. The selector 344includes a. plurality of switches which may be individually set to anyof two positions. T'nese switches may be manually operated, or they maybe automatically controlled by a program control element, andthe like.gered pattern of the stages of the binary counter 342 corresponds to thesetting of the switches in the selector 344, output signals areintroduced to all of the input terminals of the compare network 34S, Thecompare network 343 is similar to an and network, and it develops anoutput pulse on the lead 3@ only when signals are introduced to all ofits input terminals corresponding to the condition described above.

The compare network 3:53 therefore provides an output pulse for a givennumber of input pulses to the binary counter 342. This corresponds to aparticular count of the clock recordings on the information storage card34.1%. The point at which the compare network 243 develops an outputpulse is dependent upon the manual setting of the selector 315A. Thebinary counter itself develops an output pulse on the lead 35i?corresponding to the full count of the clock recordings, which pulsecorresponds to the end of the card being processed by the read heads84a, Sb, -tc and 34d.

Therefore, as the read head 84d scans the row of clock recordings on thecard 396, a pulse is introduced to the binary counter 342 for eachsuccessive position of the card 396 as it is processed by thetransducers. These pulses are counted by the binary counter 342 untilthe selected position of each card is reached. At that time, the patternof stages -in the binary counter corresponds to the established patternof the switches in the selector 344, so that the compare network 348 isable to develop an output signal which is introduced to the and networks33d, 333 and 340. At the termination of processing of each card, thebinary counter 342 develops an output signal on the lead 359.

The and network 336 is connected to the left input terminal of aHip-liep 352. The lead 359 from the binary counter 342 is connected toyan input terminal of an and network 354, and the left output terminalof the iiip-llop 352 is also connected to an input terminal of this andnetwork. rthe output terminal of the and network 354 is connected to theright input terminal of the flip-liep 352, and this outputterminal isalso connected to the let input terminal of a ilip-ilop 356.

Flip-flops such as those referred to above are also well known to theelectronic digital computer art. The ip-rops are provided with twostages which may be designated for convenience as the left and rightstages each having an input terminal and an output terminal. Theseip-ops are bi-stable relaxation oscillators, and they may be triggeredto a true state, for example, by

When the triga negative signal introduced to the left input terminalwhen the left stage is conducting; and they may be triggered to a falsestate, for example, by a negative signal introduced to the right inputterminal when the right stage is conducting. A relatively high voltageap pears at the left output terminal of the flip-flop when it is in thetrue state, and a relatively high voltage appears at the right outputterminal when the ip-liop is in the false state.

The left output terminalof the flip-flop 356 is connected to an inputterminal of an and network 35S, and the lead 350 from the binary counter342 is connected to a second input terminal of that and network. Theoutput terminal of the and etwork 353 is connected to the right inputterminal of the flip-flop 356 and to the left input terminal of allip-op 369. rl`he left output terminal of the dip-flop 360 is connectedto an input terminal of an and network 362, and the lead 35i) from thebinary counter 342 is `connected to a second input terminal of that andnetwork. The output terminal of the and network 362 is connected to theright input terminal of the dip-flop 360.

The output terminal of the and network 33S is connected to the leftinput terminal of `a flip-flop 366. The left output terminal of thedip-dop 366 is connected to the input terminal of an and network 363.The lead 350 from the binary counter 342 is connected to a second inputterminal of the and network 368, and the output terminal of the andnetwork 36S connects with the left input terminal of a llipdlop 376 andwith the right input terminal of the flip-flop 366. The left outputterminal of the flip-nop 379 is connected to an input terminal or an andnetwork 372, and the lead 350 from the binary counter 342 is connectedto a second input terminal ot the and network 372.'

The output terminal of the and network 372 is connected to the rightinput terminal of the flip-flop 37u and to the left input terminal of ailip-riop 374i. The left output terminal of the flip-flop 374 isconnected to one of the` output terminals of an and network 376. Thelead 35i) from the binary counter 342 is connected to a second inputterminal of this latter and network 376.

The output terminal of the and network 576 is connected to the rightinput terminal of the flip-flop 374 and to the left input terminal of aip-op 378. 'l' he left output terminal of the ilip-iiop 373 is connectedto one of the input terminals of 4an and network 380. The lead 35i) fromthe binary counter 345-2 is also connected to a second input terminal ofthe and network ESQ, and the output terminal of the and network isconnected to the right input terminal of the flip-flop 37 The outputterminal of the and network 3d() is connected to the left input terminalof a ili -op 384. The left output terminal of the flip-dop 384 isconnected to one of the input terminals of an and network 336, and thelead 35i) from the binary counter 342 is also connected to an inputterminal of the and network 386. The output terminal of the and network336 is connected to the right input terminal of the tlip-ilop 38d and tothe left input terminal of a flip-flop 38S. The left output terminal or"the dip-flop 333 is connected to an input terminal of an and network390i, and the lead 356 from the binary counterV 342 is also connected tothat and network.

The output terminal of the an network 390 is connected to the left inputterminal of a flip-dop 392, and to the right input terminal of theflip-flop 338. The left output terminal of the flip-flop 392 isconnected to an inputv terminal of an and network 394i, and the lead 35ufrom the binary counter 342 is connected to a second input terminal ofthat and network.

The output terminal of the and network 394- is connected to the rightinput terminal of the nip-flop 392 and to the left input terminal of aflip-Hop 396. The leftoutput terminal of the flip-dop 396 is connectedto an input terminal of an and network 393, and the lead 35d from thebinary counter 342. is also connected to that and network.

The output terminal of the and network 398 is connected to the rightinput terminal of the dip-flop 396 and to the lert input terminal of ahip-flop ddii. The left output terminal of the hip-:lop #iit isconnected to an input terminal of an and network tl-72, and the lead 35dis also connected to that and network. The outpnt terminal ot the andnetwork del is connected to the right input terminal of the flip-flopdit).

The left output terminal of the tlip-tiop 36d is connected to thecontrol grid of a triode Liftid. The cathode of the triode is grounded,and its control grid is connected to a resistor 466. The resistor 4% isconnected to the negative terminal of a direct voltage source 40S, andthe anode of the triode -is connected to one terminal of the energizingwinding of a solenoid valve 416. The other terminal of this energizingwinding is connected to the positive terminal of the direct voltagesource.V

When the triode ddd is rendered conductive, the energizing winding ofthe solenoid valve lle is energized to open the solenoid valve. Thisproduces a stream of pressurized iiuid at the gate Sti in FGURE l toeectuate the transfer of a card coming under its inliuence from thehelical path l2 of the transport member it? to the pair of slots 54 ofthe transport member dit.

The left output terminal of the flip-flop 373 is connected to thecontrol grid of a triode 4,16, this latter control grid being connectedto a resistor 4M which in turn connects with the negative terminal ofthe direct voltage source 45358. The cathode of the triode dit) isgrounded, and its anode is lconnected to one terminal of the energizingwinding of a solenoid valve 513. The other terminal of this winding isconnected to the positive terminal of the direct voltage source 408. Thesolenoid valve 418 is associated with the gate '7S in 'FiGURE l toactivate that gate when the energizing winding of the solenoid valve 41Sis energized.

The left output terminal of the flip-flop 4% is connected to the controlgrid of a triode 414, this control grid being connected to a resistor416. The resistor 416 is connected back to the negative terminal of thedirect voltage source 468, and the cathode of the triode is grounded.The energizing winding of a solenoid valve 426 is interposed between theanode of the triode 414 and the positive terminal of the direct voltagesource 49S. The solenoid valve 42@ is associated with the gate '76 inFIGURE l to activate that gate when the energizing winding is energized.

it will be understood that similar connections are provided for thegates '74, 72, 70, 68, 66, 64 and 62 in FIGURE l. When such connectionsare made, and when appropriate equivalent circuitry is included in thesystem of FIGURE 8, the cards on the helical path 12 of the transportmember it) may be directed to respective ones of the pairs of annularslots 42, da, de, d8, 5t?, 52, 54, S6, 58 and et) on the transportmember 40. This selective transfer, as explained above, is determinedupon the decimal equivalent of the binary number recorded at a selectedposition on the cards transported on the transport member 10. f

To place the equipment of FIGURE 1 into operation, the feed wheel Stiothe input sta-tion 2) is activated so that it rotates and feeds theinformation cards from the input station in succession to the entranceof the path 12 on the transport member 10. The pressurized uid isintroduced from its source into the chamber i6 in FGURE 2 through theline 1S so that the path 12 may be activated for transporting the cards.This activation, as explained above, is due to the angled pressurizedjets emerging from the orices ifi. These jets create a Bernoulli etectwhich causes the cards to move along the surface of the path 12 inintimate contact with the transport member 1t).

The information storage cards are successively transld ported by thepath 12 past the read head transducing means S4. This causes theindividual transducer heads Sita, Sb, 84C and 84d in FIGURE 8 togenerate pulses. The pulses generated by the transducer heads initiatecertain control eiects which will now bedescribed.

As the cards 3943 pass the read head transducers 64a, 84h, 84C, 84d and84e, the rows of data on the cards are processed by the read headtransducers. The read head 84e, as mentioned above, reads the clockpulses recorded on the lower row of the cards, and these clock pulsesare amplied by the ampliiier 36S and introduced to the binary counter3ft-2. In the described manner, the compare network 348 generates apulse when a selected position on each card being processed is reached.Also, a pulse is developed by the binary counter on the lead 350 at theend of the processing of each individual card.

As the cards are transported past the transducer heads 84a, Sb, 84o and34d, the amplifiers Stil, 362, 364 and 3de produce pulses correspondingto the multi-digit binary number recorded at each position of the card.These pulses are used to trigger ilip-i'lops in the transistor 334 sothat such hip-dop may assume operational states corresponding to thebinary number of the processed position of each card. The translatorthen responds to the position of the hip-flops to produce at acorresponding one of its output terminals a pulse which is the decimalequivalent of the states of the flip-flops. As mentioned above, onlythree such output terminals, corresponding respectively to the decimaldigits l, 2 and 3, are shown in HGURE 8. However, in an actualconstructed embodiment of the invention, ten output terminals would beVused for the translator 334 corresponding to the decimal digits of fromO to 9, inclusive.

The pulses from the output terminals l, 2 and 3 of the translator 334are introduced to the and networks 335, 338 and 346. However, these andnetworks are conditioned for translation by the compare network 348 onlyat the selected position of the card being processed. Therefore, theproper one of the dip-flops 352, 336 and 334 is triggered to a truestate at the particular position of the card being processed asdetermined by the particular decimal equivalent represented by thebinary data at that position.

Assume that the rst card to be processed has at its selected positionbinary data which represents the decimal equivalent 1. Then, when therst card is processed, the dip-op 352 will be triggered to a true stateby the pulse appearing at the number l output terminal of the translator334-. The triggering of the dip-dop 352 to a true state conditions theand network 354 for translation. The and network 354 subsequentlytranslates a pulse to the left input terminal of the ilip-ilop 356 a-tthe completion 'of scanning of the rst card, and a pulse appears on thelead 350. The output pulse trom the and network 354 also returns theflip-flop 352 to a false state so that it may be prepared to respond tothe next card being processed, should that card also have a decimal lrecorded at its selected position.

The triggering of the tiip-op 356 to a true state conditionsthe andnetwork 35S for translation. However, no pulses are translated by theand network 35S until the next succeeding card is processed by the readhead transducers Srta, Sb, Sf-lc, 84d and Sii-e. The pulses aretranslated by the and network 35S only after such processing has beencompleted so that a second pulse appears on the lead 350. This providesthe rst card with suticient time to be moved by the path l2 into thevicinity of the gate transfer member 80.

4The resulting output pulse from the and network 353 returns theflip-flop 356 to a false state to prepare it for the next card, and thisoutput pulse also triggers the flipiiop 360 to a true state. Thetriggering of the dip-dop 360 to the true state causes the triode d4 tobecome conductive so that an energizing current flows through theenergizing winding of the solenoid valve die. The

solenoid valve 416 therefore introduces the pressurized iuid to the gatetransfer member 80 and this occurs as 'the card reaches the `area ofinfluence of that member. The resulting pressurized streams from thegate SG causes the card to lbe stripped from the path 12 of the1Iansport member It? and transferred to the pair of slots 60 of thetransport member `40. This is the desired transfer, because all cardswith a decimal l recorded at the selected position are to be transferredto the pair of slots 60.

After the transfer of the rst card from the transport member to thetransport member 40, and at the completion of the processing of thesecond following card, the and network 362 passes a pulse to the rightinput terminal of the ip-op 360 to return that flip-flop to a falsestate and thereby terminate the conduction of the triode 404 torie-activate the gate 80.

Assume now that the second card to be processedl represents the decimalequivalent 2 at its selected position so that the terminal number 2 ofthe translator 334 develops an output pulse. This output pulse causesthe and network 338 to be conditioned for translation so that theflip-flop 336 is triggered to a true state for the second card. Theflip-flop 366 now places the and network 36S in condition fortranslation, and at lthe completion of processing of the second card theresulting pulse on the lead 350 is passed through the and network 36S.This causes the hip-Hop 37@ to be triggered to its true state, and itcauses the llip-op 366 to be returned to the false state.

In a manner similar to that described above, the pulse on the lead 35i)from the terminal of processing of the third card causes the flip-flop374 to be .triggered to a true state and the ip-flop 37h to be returnedto a false state. The triggering of the ip-lop 378 to a true statecauses the .triode Lili? to become conductive so that the gate 7S isactivated. This activation of the gate 78 occurs at the precise instantthat the second card arrives in the vicinity of that gate, this secondcard having passed the deactivated gate 86. The resulting activation ofthe gate 78, causes the second card to be transferred to the pair ofslots 58 of the transport member 40, which is desired. After the secondcard has been transferred to the transport member 4l), the third card onthe completion of its processing develops a pulse on the lead 35i) whichreturns the flip-flop 378 to its false state so as Ito deactivate thegate 7 8.

Assuming that the third card to be processed represents the decimalequivalent 3 at its selected position, in like manner, this latter cardcauses the flip-Hop 334 to be triggered to a true state. Upon thecompletion of the processing of the third card, the flip-flop 388 istriggered to .a true state and the ip-iiop 384 is returned to a falsestate. Then, the completion of processing of the next succeeding orfourth card causes the flip-flop 392 to be triggered to a vtrue stateand the flip-Hop 388 -to be returned to a false state. The completion ofprocessing of the fifth card causes the ip-op 396 to be triggered to atrue state and the flip-flop 392 to be returned to a false state.Finally, the completion of processing of the sixth card causes theflip-hop 466i to be triggered to a true state and the flip-dop 396 to bereturned to a false state.

The triggering of the dip-flop 400 to a true state causes the triode 414to become conductive to activate the gate 76. This activation of thegate '76 occurs at the precise moment that the third card arrives atthat transfer gate. This causes the third card to be transferred to theslots 55 of the transport member dit, this being desired because thethird card represents a decimal 3 at its selected position. Thetermination of processing of the seventh card causes the and network 402to pass a pulse to the right input terminal of the flip-flop 469 toterminate the activation ofthe gate 7 6.

The control circuit of FIGURE 8, therefore, permits the different ga'tesof FIGURE 1 to be activated at the appropriate times so that cardscarrying a decimal equivalent corresponding to the equivalent slots onthe member 40 may be switched to those slots. The control system permitsthe cards from the input station 3) to be sorted into different channelson the transport member 40 in accordance with the decimal equivalent ofthe information recorded at a selected position on each of the cards.

As noted above, an additional sort may now be made for the cards on anyparticular channel on the transport member 4t?. This additional sortmay, for example, be in accordance with the decimal equivalents of thebinary numbers recorded at the next ordinal level. This latter sort maybe achieved by causing the respective read head transducer means 86, 88,90, 92, 94, 96, 93, 10i?, 102 and 1'04 of FIGURE 1 to actuate a controlsystem similar to the control system described in FIGURE 8.

One such control system, associated, for example, with the transducermeans 86 is shown in FIGURE 9. It will be appreciated that similarcontrol systems may be provided for each of the transducer means listedabove.

The control system of FIGURE 9 will function to deposit the cards incorresponding ones of the stations 82 positioned along the pair of slots42 of the transport member 40. This control system is connected toblower members, such as the blower member 164 of FIGURE 6, associatedwith the respective output stations 82 along those pair of slots. Thiscauses the cards directed to the uppermost channel in FIGURE 1 of thetransport member 40 in accordance with their decimal equivalent at oneordinal level to be deposited in the output stations 82 associated withthat level in accordance with their decimal equivalents at -the secondordinal level.

With the logic control system of FIGURE 8, therefore, the cards are freerun from the input station 20 of FIGURE l to the path l2. Then as eachcard is read by the heads Stia-84e the number recorded at the processedposition is stored in the logic circuitry. The stored number is thenpassed step-by-step through the logic circuitry under the control of thesucceeding cards. The number of such steps each number takes before itscorresponding gate is actuated is determined by the decimal equivalentof the number itself. Thus, the greater the decimal equivalent, thegreater the number of such steps'.

The control described in the preceding paragraph permits the cards tomove up along the spiral path 12 of FIGURE 1 in synchronism with thestep-by-step passage of their decimal equivalents through the logiccontrol circuitry, with each card reading its corresponding gate at thesame time its decimal equivalent is caused to activate that gate by thecontrol circuitry.

As noted above, the control system of FIGURE 9 is generally similar tothe control system of FIGURE 8, yand like components have beenrepresented by the same numerals. In FIGURE 9, the transducer means 86is illustrated as comprising a plurality of separate transducer readheads 86a, Sb, 86C, 86d and 86e. These read heads scan the differentrows of information on the cards, like the card 360, as the cards arecarried passed these heads by the transport member 40. These heads areconnected to a plurality of ampliers, which are similar to theamplifiers Sill, 302, 304, 306 and 3.08 in FlGURE 8.

The control system of FIGURE 8 has been described as controlling thevarious transfer gates between the transport members 10 and 40. Thecontrol system of FIGURE 9, on the other hand, controls various blowers,such as the blower 164 of FIGURE 6, associated with the differentstations `82 along the uppermost channel of the transport member 40, asmentioned above. Several of these blowers are indicated as 164a, 164band 164e in FIGURE 9. It will be understood that for a proper decimalsor-t, 10 output stations will lbe associated with t9 the pair of slots42. However, 3 of the blowers are shown merely to simplify thedescription.

In the system of FIGURE 9, the triode 494 controls the current through asolenoid winding 45t) which, in turn, controls the introduction of airpressure to one of the blowers, designated 154:1, of an output station82. in like manner, the triode 4l@ controls the introduction of airpressure to a second blower 1646, of a second output station, and thetriode 416 controls the introduction of `air pressure to a third bloweri640, of a third output station. As noted, the control system of FGURE 9would normally be expanded to control ten such blowers associated withthe ten output stations 82 positioned along the pair of slots 42. Asalso indicated, control systems identical to the one of FIGURE 9 may beused to control the deposit of cards in the other groups of outputstations S2 associated with the other pairs of slots in the transportmember 40.

The apparatus and system of the invention, therefore, provides amulti-sort operation on the cards in any particular pass. At the end ofany pass, and as mentioned above, the output stations S2 can beconditioned to their feeding mode to permit all the cards to be fed to acommon output station. The cards may then be re-deposited in the inputstation 20 so that a second pass may be effectuated, with the selectedprocessing positions on each card being at ya different ordinal level.These passes may then be continued until a complete sort of the cardshas been achieved.

Although the invention has been described as performing a decimal sorton the cards, it will be appreciated that this is merely an example andthat the system of the invention is equally capable of performing binarysorts and other operations on the cards.

'It will be appreciated that it is not necessary to syn- Vchronize theoperations of all the ip-ops in the control system of 8 and 9 from yasingle binary counter 342 controlled by the read head 84. Instead, aseparate read head andy associated logic could be disposed adjacent eachof the transfer gates 62, 64, 66, 68, 70, 72, 74, 76, 78 and S todetermine whether a particular card is to be transferred or not by thecorresponding transfer gate. For example, an indication of 1 read by thehead adjacent the gate 80 at the proper position on the card would beintroduced to the and network 353 for passage through the and networkupon the production of a relatively high voltage on the left outputterminal of the iiipop 356. Similarly, an indication of "2 read by thehead adjacent the gate 73 at the proper position on the card would beintroduced to the and network 372 in FIG- URE 9 for passage through theand network upon the production of a relatively high voltage on the leftoutput terminal of the flip-hop 370.

It will also be appreciated that appropriate automatic control circuitrymay be provided for returning the cards to the input station 29 at theend of each pass and for initiating thenext pass. Such circuitry wouldenable the system to perform automatically from pass to pass until thedesired sort could be fully performed. It should also be noted that thereceiving means 82 are not necessarily stacking stations, but may be anyother -appropriate means for receiving the cards during the varioussorting operations.

The invention provides, therefore, improved and compact `apparatus inwhich the sorting process performed on a group of information cards maybe materially speeded up. This latter objective is realized by virtue ofthe fact that the apparatus is capable of performing a plurality ofsorting operations on each card for each individual pass. Moreover, theinvention has the feature in that these sorting operations are performedin an essentially threedimensional coniiguration so that the optimumcompactness of the apparatus may be realized. Y

lt should also be appreciated that all of the transducing heads can bedisposed in coupled relationship to the cards on the transport meansltl. For example, it is believed that a person skilled in the art wouldappreciate that the heads 36 can be disposed in coupled relationship totheV cards on the transport means its to operate with the circuitryshown in FIGURE 9 for controlling the movements of the cards with thetransport means du. lt will also be appreciated that the heads Se canperform the functions of both the heads 84 and 36 by appropriatelymodifying the circuitry shown in FXGURE 9 to respond to the signals fromthe heads S4. n

It is also believed that a person skilled in the art would appreciatehow to adapt the invention to automatically obtain a plurality ofsuccessive sorts. For example, a

plurality of transport means corresponding to the trans-v port means l2can be disposed at spaced positions around the periphery of thetransport means l2. Each of these peripheral transport means willreceive cards having a different tenths digit than those received by theother transport means and will control the movements of the cards inaccordance with the value of the hundredths digit. Transport meanscorresponding to the transport means 40 will then be associated witheach of the peripheral transport means described above t-o control themovements of the cards in accordance with the thousandths digit.

What is claimed is:

l. In combination for processing a group of information storage cardseach containing information at a plurality of positions on the cards,input means constructed to hold the information storage cards in thegroup, first transport means for the cards, means disposed relative tothe input means for obtaining a transfer of cards from the input meansto the transport means, second multi-path transport means for the cards,the second multi-path transport means being provided with a plurality ofpaths each-disposed to receive cards from the tirst transport means, aplurality of gate members each disposed relative to the rst transportmeans and an individual one of the paths in the multi-path transportmeans to obtain a transfer of cards between the first transport meansand the individual ones of the paths in the multi-path transport means,a plurality of output means disposed in groups with the output means ineach group being disposed in spaced relationship along an individual oneof the paths in the multi-path transport means to receive the cardstravelling along the individual path in the multi-path transport means,transducing means disposed relative to the transported cards forprocessing information on the cards before the movement of the cards tothe gate members and before movement of the cards to the output means,first electrical circuitry responsive to rst particular informationobtained by the transducing means from each transported card fordelaying such information until the movement of the card to the positionfor transfer to a particular one of the paths in the multi-pathtransport means by the particular one of the gate members in theplurality representing such rst particular information and for obtainingan operation of the particular gate member upon the movement of the cardto the position for transfer of the card by the particular gate member,and second electrical circuitry responsive to second particularinformation obtained by the transducing means from each transported cardfor delaying such information until the movement of the card along theparticular one of the paths in the multi-path transfer means to theposition for transfer to a particular one of the output means in thegroup associated with that particular path and representing the secondparticular information and for obtaining a transfer of the card to theparticular output means upon the movement of the card to the particularoutput means.

2. In combination for processing a group of information storage cardseach containing information on the cards; at leastone input station forthe information storage cards, first transport means for the cards,means disposed relative to the cards in the input station for obtaininga controlled transfer of cards from the input station to the rsttransport means; second multi-path transport means for the cards; gatetransfer means disposed relative to the first transport means and to thesecond multi-path transport means for selectively directing the cardsfrom the first transport means to the individual paths on the secondtransport means; a plurality of output stations disposed in groups withthe stations in each group being disposed relative to an individual oneof the paths on the second transport means to receive the cards movingin that path, transducing means disposed relative to the transportedcards for sensing and decoding information on such cards; meansresponsive to first particular information from the transducing meansfor producing control signals in accordance with such first particularinformation and for delaying such control signals until the movement ofthe cards to the position for transfer by the gate lmeans to theindividual ones of the paths representative of such information on thesecond transport means and for thereafter obtaining an operation of thegate means to provide a transfer of the cards to such individual ones ofthe paths on the second transport means; and means responsive to secondparticular information from the transducing means for producing secondcontrol ysignals and for delaying such second control signals until themovement of the cards on the individual ones of the paths on the secondtransport means to the output stations representative of said secondparticular information and for thereafter obtaining a transfer of thecards into such representative stations.

3. 'In combination for processing a group of information storage cardseach containing information on the cards, an input station for a groupof information storage cards, tirst transport means constructed to holdcards on the transport means and to provide a movement of the cardsthrough different distances along a particular path, means operativeupon the cards in the input stack for obtaining a controlled transfer ofcards to the rst transport means, second multi-path transport meansdisposed adjacent the first transport means and constructed to holdcards on the transport means and to provide a movement of the cards, aplurality of gate transfer -members each disposed relative to the rsttransport means at a different position along the particular path andeach disposed relative to an individual one of the paths of themulti-path transport means to obtain a transfer of cards from the rsttransport means to the individual path on the second transport means ina first operative relationship and to prevent such a transfer in asecond operative relationship, means including transducing meansdisposed relative to the transported cards for processing information onthe transported cards, a first electrical control system operativelycoupled to the transducing means for processing rst information on thetransported cards and for selectively activating the gate transfermembers in the plurality in accordance with such processed informationand upon the movement of the cards to the position for the transfer bythe selected gate transfer mechanism to selectively direct the cards todifferent ones of the paths on the multipath transport means inaccordance with the processing of the first information on thetransported cards, and a second electrical control system operativelycoupled to the transducing means for processing second information onthe transported cards and for controlling the movements of each card ona particular one of the paths on the multi-path transport means in-accordance with the processing ofthe second information on thetransported cards, the first transport means including a hollow memberhaving a plurality of angled fluid-emitting orifices therein to create aforce to retain the cards on the first transport means and to move thecards along a spiral path constituting the particular path around thefirst transport means.

4. KIn combination for processing a group of information storage cardseach containing informationen the cards, an input station for a group ofinformation storage cards, first transport means constructed to holdcards on the transport means and -to provide a movement of the ca-rdsthrough different distances along a particular path, means operativeupon the cards in the input stack for obtaining -a controlled transferof cards to the first `transport means, second multi-path transportYmeans disposed adjacent the rst Ytransport means and constructed tohold cards on the transport means and to provide a movement of thecards, a plurality of gate transfer members each disposed relative tothe Ifirst transport means at a different position along the lparticularpathandeach disposed relative to an individual one of Ithe paths of themulti-path transport means to obtain a transfer of cards from the firsttransport means to the individual path -on the second transport means-in a first operative relationship and to prevent such a transfer in vasecond operative relationship, means including transducing meansdisposed relative to the transported cards for processing information onthe transported cards, a first electrical control system operativelycoupled to the transducing means for processing first information on thetransported cards and for selectively activating the gate t-ransfermembers in the plurality in accordance with such processed informationand upon the movement of the cards to the position for the transfer bythe selected gate transfer mechanism to selectively direct the cards todifferent ones of the paths on the multi-path transport means inaccordance with the processing of the rst information on the transportedcards, and a second electrical control system operatively coupled to thetransducing means for processing second information on the transportedcards and for controlling the movements of each car-d on a particularone of the paths on the multi-path transport means in accordance withthe processing of the second information on the transported cards,second transport means including a rotatably mounted hollow drum havingspaced slots formed in its periphery to create a vacuum at the peripheryand further including means coupled to the drum for creating a vacuumpressure at `said slots to retain the cards on the peripheral surface ofthe drum.

5. In combination for processing a group of information storage cardseach containing information on the cards, an input station for a groupof information storage cards, first transport means constructed to holdcards on the transport means and to provide a movement of the cardsthrough different distances along a particular path, means operativeupon the cards in the input stack for obtaining a controlled transfer ofcards to the first transport means, second multi-path transport meansdisposed adjacent the first transport means and constructed to holdcards on the transport means and to provide a movement of the cards, aplurality of gate transfer members each disposed relative to the firsttransport means at a different position along the particular path andeach disposed relative to an individual one of the paths of themulti-path transport means to obtain a transfer of cards from the firsttransport means to the individual path on the second transport means ina first operative relationship and to prevent such a transfer in asecond operative relationship, means including transducing meansdisposed relative to the transported cards at a position near thetransfer of cards from the input station to the rst transport means forprocessing information on the transported cards prior to the movementsof the cards to any of the positions for transfer from the firsttransport means to the second transport means, a first electricalcontrol system operatively coupled to the transducing means forprocessing first information on the transported cards and forselectively activating the gate transfer members in the plurality inaccordance with such processed information and upon the movement of thecards to the position for the transfer by the selected gate transfermechanism to selectively direct the cards to different ones of the pathson the multi-path transport means in accordance with the processing ofthe first information on the transported cards, and a second electricalcontrol system operatively coupled to the transducing means forprocessing second information on the transported cards and forcontrolling the movements of each card on a particular one of the pathson the multipath transport means in accordance with the processing ofthe second information on the'transported cards, the rst transport meansincluding a hollow member having a plurality of angled fluid-emittingorifices therein to create a force to retain the cards on the rsttransport means and to move the cards along a spiral path constitutingthe particular path around the first transport means.

6. In combination for processing a group of information storage cardsyeach vcontaining information on the cards, an input stationfor a groupof information storage cards, iirst transport means constructed to holdcards on the transport means and to provide a movement of the cardsthrough dierent distances along a particular path,

means operative upon the cards in the yinput stack for obtaining acontrolled transfer of cards to the first transport means, Vsecondmulti-path transport means disposed adjacent the Erst transport meansand constructed to hold cards on the transport means and to provide amovement of the cards, a plurality of gate transfer members eachdisposed relative to the first transport means at a differentpositionalong the particular path and each disposed relative Vto anindividual one of the paths of the multi-path transport means 4to obtaina transfer of cards from the tirsttransport means to the individual pathon the second transport means in a first operative relationship and/toprevent suchla transfer in a second operative relationship, meansincluding transducing means disposed relative to the transported cardsat a position near the transfer of cards'from the input station to thevrst transport means for processing information on the 24 transportedcards prior to the movements of the cards to any of the positions fortransfer from the first transport means to the second transport means, afirst electrical control system operatively coupled to the transducingmeans for processing first information on the transported cards and forselectively activating the gate transfer members in the plurality inaccordance with such processed information and upon trie movement of thecards to the position for the transfer by the selected gate transfermechanism to selectively direct the cards to different ones of the pathson the multi-path transport means in accordance with the processing ofthe first information on the transported cards, and a second elec- Ytrical control system operatively coupled to the transducing means forprocessing second information on the transported cards and forcontrolling the movements of each card on a particular one of the pathson the multipath transport means in accordance With the processing ofthe second information on the transported cards, the second transportmeans including `a 'rotatably mounted hollow drum having spaced slotsformed in its periphery to create a vacuum at the periphery and furtherincluding means coupled to the drumtfor creating a vacuum pressureatsaid slots to retain the cards on the peripheral surface of the drum.

References Qited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

1. IN COMBINATION FOR PROCESSING A GROUP OF INFORMATION STORAGE CARDSEACH CONTAINING INFORMATION AT A PLURALITY OF POSITIONS ON THE CARDS,INPUT MEANS CONSTRUCTED TO HOLD THE INFORMATION STORAGE CARDS IN THEGROUP, FIRST TRANSPORT MEANS FOR THE CARDS, MEANS DISPOSED RELATIVE TOTHE INPUT MEANS FOR OBTAINING A TRANSFER OF CARDS FROM THE INPUT MEANSTO THE TRANSPORT MEANS, SECOND MULTI-PATH TRANSPORT MEANS FOR THE CARDS,THE SECOND MULTI-PATH TRANSPORT MEANS BEING PROVIDED WITH A PLURALITY OFPATHS EACH DISPOSED TO RECEIVE CARDS FROM THE FIRST TRANSPORT MEANS, APLURALITY OF GATE MEMBERS EACH DISPOSED RELATIVE TO THE FIRST TRANSPORTMEANS AND AN INDIVIDUAL ONE OF THE PATHS IN THE MULTI-PATH TRANSPORTMEANS TO OBTAIN A TRANSFER OF CARDS BETWEEN THE FIRST TRANSPORT MEANSAND THE INDIVIDUAL ONES OF THE PATHS IN THE MULTI-PATH TRANSPORT MEANS,A PLURALITY OF OUTPUT MEANS DISPOSED IN GROUPS WITH THE OUTPUT MEANS INEACH GROUP BEING DISPOSED IN SPACED RELATIONSHIP ALONG AN INDIVIDUAL ONEOF THE PATHS IN THE MULTI-PATH TRANSPORT MEANS TO RECEIVE THE CARDSTRAVELING ALONG THE INDIVIDUAL PATH IN THE MULTI-PATH TRANSPORT MEANS,TRANSDUCING MEANS DISPOSED RELATIVE TO THE TRANSPORTED CARDS FORPROCESSING INFORMATION ON THE CARDS BEFORE THE MOVEMENT OF THE CARDS TOTHE GATE MEMBERS AND BEFORE MOVEMENT OF THE CARDS TO THE OUTPUT MEANS,FIRST ELECTRICAL CIRCUITRY RESPONSIVE TO FIRST PARTICULAR INFORMATIONOBTAINED BY THE TRANSDUCING MEANS FROM EACH TRANSPORTED CARD FORDELAYING SUCH INFORMATION UNTIL THE MOVEMENT OF THE CARD TO THE POSITIONFOR TRANSFER TO A PARTICULAR ONE OF THE PATH IN THE MULTI-PATH TRANSPORTMEANS BY THE PARTICULAR ONE OF THE GATE MEMBERS IN THE PLURALITYREPRESENTING SUCH FIRST PARTICULAR INFORMATION AND FOR OBTAINING ANOPERATION OF THE PARTICULAR GATE MEMBER UPON THE MOVEMENT OF THE CARD TOTHE POSITION FOR TRANSFER OF THE CARD BY THE PARTICULAR GATE MEMBER, ANDSECOND ELECTRICAL CIRCUITRY RESPONSIVE TO SECOND PARTICULAR INFORMATIONOBTAINED BY THE TRANSDUCING MEANS FROM EACH TRANSPORTED CARD FORDELAYING SUCH INFORMATION UNTIL THE MOVEMENT OF THE CARD ALONG THEPARTICULAR ONE OF THE PATHS IN THE MULTI-PATH TRANSFER MEANS TO THEPOSITION FOR TRANSFER TO A PARTICULAR ONE OF THE OUTPUT MEANS IN THEGROUP ASSOCIATED WITH THAT PARTICULAR PATH AND REPRESENTING THE SECONDPARTICULAR INFORMATION AND FOR OBTAINING A TRANSFER OF THE CARD TO THEPARTICULAR OUTPUT MEANS UPON THE MOVEMENT OF THE CARD TO THE PARTICULAROUTPUT MEANS.